"How can I learn VCR repair on tape with my hopelessly broken VCR?" *tries to kill self, but the gun breaks apart, the useless pieces scattering atop an unopened copy of "gun repair 101"
From what I have been told, for programming jobs, they will actually sit your ass down in front of a computer and ask you to program right there in the interview. They care much less about where your degree is from and much more about whether you can actually do what you say you can do.
there is some truth in this statement. I've been job shopping of late and it really comes down to 6+ grueling hours of tech screening/exercises and discussion. I have a GED and a bullshit trade school certificate that I've never ever been asked about.